HOUSING an offender in jail costs more than $200 a day, but $26 is all that's needed to supervise them in the community.
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Wagga City Council has indicated it will sign a two-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Corrective Services NSW to facilitate a scheme that assists offenders undertaking a Community Service Order (CSO).
The move comes following the completion of a 90-day trial CSO project, which saw up to 10 people carry out some of their court-imposed punishment for council.
The trial focused on the removal of illegally dumped rubbish and other environmental projects.
On Monday night, the tables were turned for Wagga magistrate Michael Antrum as he pleaded his case in front of council's policy and strategy committee meeting.
Despite not being in an official capacity, Magistrate Antrum spoke of the benefits of CSOs.
He said although sentencing required a general deterrent, a rehabilitative aspect was also needed.
"People get out of jail ... and what you really want to do is make sure they're a better person at the end of whatever the punishment regime is," Mr Antrum said.
"Community Service Orders, in my view, are one of the best options we have.
"They're still paying the penalty, their liberty is still restricted, but they're doing something useful and many of them ... actually feel very, very good about what they've done."
Magistrate Antrum said he was "keen" for council to remain on board and expand its involvement
"I've seen the good work it can do for individuals and I think it's a win-win equation," he said.
Manager of Wagga Community Corrections Paul Bonnett told the meeting council had been provided 587 hours - about $1100 worth - of free labour during the trial period.
Mr Bonnett said about 50 per cent of high-risk offenders on parole end up back in jail, as do about 26 per cent of medium and low-risk offenders.
About 84 per cent of CSO participants complete the program.
Councillor Andrew Negline pushed for a scorecard to be developed so the scheme could be reviewed in the future, a move met with opposition from Councillor Alan Brown, who said it would be "a complete and utter waste of staff time".
"I think we should leave it to Corrective Services to make a decision on what they see and do, in conjunction with staff of course," Cr Brown said.
A final decision will be made on September 29.
